Hangover help

Ringing in the New Year often means having a glass of champagne or a cocktail. For some, it might mean having more than just one.

But having too many alcoholic drinks can mean that dreaded feeling arrives in the morning: the hangover. Tomorrow's festivities may include a pounding headache, a swimming stomach and the New Year's resolution to never imbibe so much again.

"Try to pace yourself. Drink water or club soda with a twist of lemon or lime in it," said Sharon Medalis, registered dietitian and clinical nutrition coordinator at Geisinger Medical Center. "There are a lot of non-alcoholic drinks that are good, such as cranberry spritzers, club soda, non-alcoholic beer and eggnog."

One thing that many people don't think about when drinking is the empty calories, as well as the health risks associated with overconsumption of alcohol.

"A 12-ounce beer has 150 calories, 5-ounce glass of wine has 130 calories and a shot of liquor has 100 calories," said Medalis. "You need to think about quantity. It all goes back to moderation: one drink per day for a female and two for a male. We push people for less than that."

Carbohydrates and protein are four calories per gram, whereas alcohol is seven calories per gram. Have a few drinks back to back adds up calories quickly.

Research on excessive alcohol consumption has shown that gaining weight in the abdominal area can occur.

"In particular, we are finding that when it's deposited in the abdominal area there is an increase in diabetes and heart disease," Medalis said. "Alcohol can also raise blood pressure and triglycerides in some people. That could be a risk for heart disease and stroke."

Another thing to watch out for is the fact that alcohol can interact with certain medications, making the medication either not work or create dangerous side effects.

And while many studies show alcohol can be a bad thing, there are a few studies that suggest moderate drinking can be beneficial.

"There have been studies for a while that indicate there might be some benefits in wine," Medalis said. "It's derived from grapes, which are antioxidants. Alcohol could raise good cholesterol in the blood. But you have to be careful if there is a history of alcohol problems."

So what if you drink a little too much while celebrating the New Year? What can you do to help avoid the dreaded hangover?

"Have water between drinks," said Heather Doherty, bartender and server at Sarah Street Grill in Stroudsburg. "Eating is good. It helps to absorb the alcohol."

Amy Nestor, a bartender at the Cinder Inn in East Stroudsburg, said, "The bartender never lies." She said she gets asked all the time what can be done to avoid a nasty hangover.

"Pace yourself. If you can drink water in between drinks, that's good," she said. "Before you go to bed, have something really greasy, some water and an aspirin."

Nestor said that taking an aspirin before heading out for a night of partying sometimes helps, as well.

"The one thing I tell people is if they wake up hungover is to have a Cinder Inn's Bloody Mary," she said. "They are made from scratch. People love our Bloody Marys. And always remember to drink a lot of water; as much as you can stand."